PESHAWAR: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Akhtar Hayat Khan on Friday directed all the regional and district police officers to take departmental action against the cops participating in any political gathering.
The IGP issued directives to all the regional and district police officers as well as heads of different wings.
It was done to ensure that no policeman accompanied any political leader in rallies outside the province and only performed lawful duties.
The RPOs and DPOs issued similar instructions to their deputies to ensure that all those policemen deployed with political leaders do not attend any political activity outside the KP.
The cops were directed that no police resources, including vehicles, should be used for political activities.
"All the policemen deployed for security with politicians are directed not to participate in any political event outside KP. Also, all gunmen are directed not to accompany these politicians for any such event outside the province," stated different circulars issued by the police regional heads.
The instructions were issued to stop policemen and official police cars from being part of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) march towards the federal capital. The march, slated for November 24, is to be led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur.
Meanwhile, the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway was closed from Friday night 'for maintenance'.
This will block the main route between the KP and Islamabad that was to be used by the PTI workers for the march towards the federal capital.
It will be interesting to see whether the policemen deployed with the chief minister, cabinet members and other lawmakers comply with the orders or continue to guard these political leaders during the march.
"It will be difficult for police officers and junior cops to refuse orders of the chief minister, who is the chief executive of the province. On the other hand, they cannot afford to disregard the circular issued by their bosses," said an official. This is the first time in the last many months that cops have been banned from such events.
In recent months, police contingents including senior officers accompanied the chief minister, other cabinet members and lawmakers when they marched towards Islamabad to pressure the federal government to release former prime minister Imran Khan. The chief minister was seen riding a police van in different videos.
Many policemen and officials of other departments of KP were arrested by the Islamabad and Punjab Police later for creating a law and order situation.
Apart from arresting several government employees in the previous march, police in Punjab and Islamabad impounded official vehicles and machinery that accompanied the PTI leadership.
Earlier, a letter from the office of the KP chief Secretary to all the heads of the departments also instructed government officials and employees to avoid political events. They were directed to remain neutral and perform duties in a professional way.